A Pressure Imbalance Can Lead to Seawall Failure

The third part of our blog series will focus on another common cause of seawall failure, a pressure imbalance. When an imbalance occurs it can affect the stability of a seawall and potentially lead to failure.

Building a Stable Seawall

Building a seawall to help protect your property from encroaching waters is very different from building a decorative landscape feature or putting up a fence. Building a seawall requires marine construction specialists with expert level knowledge and the extensive experience to ensure your seawall is constructed properly to keep you, your family, and your property safe.

The stability of a seawall is dependent upon some key variables such as wall height, wall length and strength, the building materials being used, and more. Each of these factors informs the seawall design and each can affect the seawall pressure balance, a key component of a properly built seawall.

Why is Having Balanced Pressure so Important?

Seawall construction experts must take into account the pressure of the water rushing against the seawall and the pressure exerted by the land and property being protected by the seawall. Excess pressure in one direction can lead to wall damage such as cracks, and over time can attribute to seawall failure. Keeping the pressure on a seawall balanced helps ensure the safety and long-term stability of the wall.

Common Causes of Seawall Pressure Imbalances

The most common causes of seawall pressure imbalances include:

• Changes to Water Flow Patterns
• Changes to Your Living Space
• Landscaping Modifications

Identifying Seawall Pressure Imbalances

Keep reading. Part four of the seawall failure series focuses on the most common causes of seawall pressure imbalances and what you can do to prevent seawall failure due to a pressure imbalance.